Marvel Rumored to Be Planning Shorts to Promote Lesser Heroes

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A while back there was talk that Marvel was going to dip into its stable of second-tier heroes for more modestly budgeted films. Now comes a rumor that the studio may try to generate interest in these characters by filming shorts to run before their tent-pole franchises.

Hey, if Marvel wants to offer up a 10-minute "Doctor Strange" short ahead of "The Avengers," we'd love to see it. But why would they bother? It seems like a massive investment for floating trial balloons. And what if folks hate the short? Do they spike the feature-length film?

If there's anything to this rumor, they'd better get down to business, because "Thor" arrives in May 2011, with "Captain America" coming two months later. Marvel isn't going to have a much better chance to promote their minor heroes.

The Marvelous Characters of Marvel Comics

The original idea of making small-budget hero films? That makes total sense to us. If "District 9" was made for $30 million, there's no reason they couldn't make a ripping good "Luke Cage" for a similar budget

"Daredevil" tanking had nothing to do with a lack of interest, and no short in the world would've done enough to make it a success.

Published at 6:57 AM PDT on Jun 21, 2010 | Updated at 11:43 AM PDT on May 30, 2012